The securitization of the The securitization of the Disi Aquifer: a - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The securitization of the The securitization of the Disi Disi Aquifer: a silent Aquifer: a silent conflict between Jordan conflict between Jordan and Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia

Disi Disi is is

• A shared

A shared groundwater basin groundwater basin

• A non renewable

A non renewable aquifer aquifer

• A project with a

A project with a heavy heavy environmental environmental impact impact

• Far from Amman

Far from Amman and consequently and consequently costly costly

Our theoretical tools Our theoretical tools

• The securitization continuum

The securitization continuum

Non- politicised Politicised Violised Securitized

• The Sanctioned discourse

The Sanctioned discourse

• The hydraulic mission concept

The hydraulic mission concept

• The concept of “non violent conflict”

The concept of “non violent conflict”

• Silence as a method of control & power

Silence as a method of control & power

• Prior use concept

Prior use concept

Why Why Disi Disi? ?

• Jordan is one of the countries located

Jordan is one of the countries located within Israel’s within Israel’s hegemonic hegemonic area area

• As a consequence of this ,Jordan

As a consequence of this ,Jordan chose the option to embark on a chose the option to embark on a conflict with Saudi Arabia than conflict with Saudi Arabia than

• pening a new bargaining process
• pening a new bargaining process

with Israel with Israel

• Disi

Disi is therefore an effect of is therefore an effect of dominance depending on the Israeli dominance depending on the Israeli “hydro “hydro-

• Hegemon status”

Hegemon status”

The politicization phase The politicization phase

• Disi

Disi was discovered in 1984 and until the 1990s was discovered in 1984 and until the 1990s geological and hydro geological and hydro-

• chemical surveys were the

chemical surveys were the

• nly studies available on the subject
• nly studies available on the subject
• During the 1990s the

During the 1990s the Disi Disi aquifer was targeted as aquifer was targeted as a short a short-

• term solution by Jordan, due to the political

term solution by Jordan, due to the political unfeasibility of bigger projects at a regional level unfeasibility of bigger projects at a regional level (Unity Dam, Red (Unity Dam, Red-

• Dead Canal)

Dead Canal)

• Disi

Disi starts to be considered as a international starts to be considered as a international political issue. A “groundwater conflict” and a political issue. A “groundwater conflict” and a “pumping race” with Saudi Arabia is feared “pumping race” with Saudi Arabia is feared ( (Shapland Shapland 1997) 1997)

The securitization phase The securitization phase

“ “ An issue may be securitised by the performance of the An issue may be securitised by the performance of the speech act of inscribing that issue with meaning as part speech act of inscribing that issue with meaning as part

• f the security politics
• f the security politics ”

” Neumann 1998 Neumann 1998

Jordan accuses Saudi Arabia of over-exploitation in

1992 and 1999, with no official reply from the Saudi Government

• In 2002 the Minister of Water and Irrigation declared that

In 2002 the Minister of Water and Irrigation declared that Disi Disi was part of the National Security Issue. As such, the was part of the National Security Issue. As such, the project was set by the Ministry of Water as a first priority project was set by the Ministry of Water as a first priority for 2002 for 2002

• Between 2002 and 2004 the accessibility to the

Between 2002 and 2004 the accessibility to the environmental feasibility studies has been blocked environmental feasibility studies has been blocked

• The data regarding the

The data regarding the renewability renewability of the aquifer, its

• f the aquifer, its

capacity and the proposed pumping rate have been capacity and the proposed pumping rate have been secreted. secreted.

The narrative and the securitisation continuum of Disi project

Non-politicised Politicised Securitised & silenced Politicisation 1990’s Securitisation 2002-2004 De- securitisation Jordan accuses Saudi Arabia of

• ver-exploitation

(1992 and 1999) Disi is declared a national security issue and, therefore, it is silenced violised

Event Process

Phase

Process Event : Phases / : Processes / : Events

Why a silenced securitization? Why a silenced securitization?

• A silenced securitization is useful in the case

A silenced securitization is useful in the case you prepare yourself to exploit the principle of you prepare yourself to exploit the principle of “prior use”. “prior use”.

• This principle states that , in the case of a water

This principle states that , in the case of a water agreement, a state shall be entitled to the same agreement, a state shall be entitled to the same amount of water usually exploited in the past amount of water usually exploited in the past times. times.

• A state tries to pump more water than usual in

A state tries to pump more water than usual in

• rder to claim a major quantity of the resource,
• rder to claim a major quantity of the resource,

in case it will face a bargaining process that will in case it will face a bargaining process that will lead to an agreement with a co lead to an agreement with a co-

• riparian state.

riparian state.

Securitised & silenced

Conclusions Conclusions

• Disi

Disi can be put in the list of non can be put in the list of non-

• violent conflicts

violent conflicts running over shared waters running over shared waters

• Disi

Disi project is currently being securitized by the project is currently being securitized by the Jordanian Government Jordanian Government

• The conflict is being silenced by both Jordan

The conflict is being silenced by both Jordan and Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia

• A silence as a method of control and power is

A silence as a method of control and power is here suggested as a tool for future analysis in here suggested as a tool for future analysis in the field of water conflicts the field of water conflicts

THE FUTURE THE FUTURE Whishing well: waiting for Whishing well: waiting for desecuritisation desecuritisation? ?

“ “Desecuritisation Desecuritisation of water resource

• f water resource

management is a healthy manifestation, management is a healthy manifestation, because it opens up the discourse and because it opens up the discourse and allows a wider range of allows a wider range of roleplayers roleplayers to to become involved in the resolution of the become involved in the resolution of the core problem. This tends to foster core problem. This tends to foster institutional development and manifest as institutional development and manifest as a win a win-

• win outcome, which is inherently

win outcome, which is inherently more conducive to economic growth and more conducive to economic growth and hence positive peace”. hence positive peace”. (Turton 2003). (Turton 2003).

Thank you ! Thank you !

This research has been possible thanks to the This research has been possible thanks to the funding of CNR funding of CNR – – Italian Centre of National Italian Centre of National Research Research – – ISSM ISSM-

• Naples

Naples-

• Italy

Italy